Macroscopic control of high-order harmonics quantum-path components for the generation of attosecond pulses

H. Merdji (1) , M. Kovačev (2) , W. Boutu (1) , P. Salieres (3) , F. Vernay (4) , B. Carré (5)

1 SPAM - Service des Photons, Atomes et Molécules
2 Leibniz Universität Hannover=Leibniz University Hannover
3 LIDYL - Laboratoire Interactions, Dynamiques et Lasers (ex SPAM)
4 PROMES - Procédés, Matériaux et Energie Solaire
5 IRFU - Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers

We present measurements of the different quantum path contributions to the high-order harmonic emission. Through spatial and spectral filtering, we evidence the strong correlation between the spatial and spectral distributions, which allows us to quantify the contribution of each quantum path. A systematic analysis as a function of the generating parameters has been done to identify the conditions for efficient generation and selection of a single quantum path. We show that combining phase matching and spatial filtering allows maximizing and selecting the short quantum path contribution, condition for the generation of "clean" and intense attosecond pulses.

Mots clés: number͑s͒: 4265Ky; 4265Re; 4287Bg

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]; Physique Quantique [quant-ph]

H. Merdji, M. Kovačev, W. Boutu, P. Salieres, F. Vernay, et al.. Macroscopic control of high-order harmonics quantum-path components for the generation of attosecond pulses. Physical Review A : Atomic, molecular, and optical physics [1990-2015], 2006, 74 (4), ⟨10.1103/PhysRevA.74.043804⟩. ⟨hal-02145556⟩